CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers embrace after the game on November 30, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Earlier this week, we asked Cleveland Cavaliers fans which Eastern Conference team improved most this offseason. Four teams have made drastic moves that are expected to change their playoff trajectory. However, one team stood out more than the rest.
Philadelphia winning the poll isn’t too surprising. They made the flashiest move of the offseason by swapping out Paul George and draft capital for Jaylen Brown. Brown was a peripheral MVP candidate last season. Putting him in the place of George should be an instant upgrade.
That said, I am surprised that the Raptors didn’t get some more support here. Assuming that the trade for Kawhi Leonard actually goes through, they should be on the shortlist of Eastern Conference contenders and present matchup issues for a Cavs team that struggled against them last postseason.
The Heat and Celtics’ place in the poll feels warranted. Miami should be much better with the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it’s fair to wonder if they are true threats in the East without additional help.
The odds on FanDuel show a tightly contested battle for the top of the Eastern Conference next season.
Currently, the defending champion New York Knicks are the favorites to have the top seed in the conference at the end of the season at +310. Behind them are the Celtics (+440), Detroit Pistons (+450), Cavs (+800), Sixers (+850), and then the Raptors (+1000).
The odds to win the 2027 Finals don’t reflect that order. The Knicks are the top team in the East at +900, followed by the Celtics (+1300), Raptors (+1600), Sixers (+2200), Pistons (+2200), and then Cavs (+2200).
We’ll see how this shakes out soon enough. And we’ll see how the possible return of LeBron James to the Eastern Conference potentially shakes the odds up even more.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres takes the ball from Griffin Canning #17 during a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park on July 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres are still without a series win this month. The club struggled against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly last night, scoring just one run on a Manny Machado homer in the second inning. After that, the club managed just two hits. Griffin Canning pitched well, navigating trouble to give up just two runs. Unfortunately, that was all Arizona would need.
Tonight, the Toronto Blue Jays will come to town to face San Diego. The Padres have considerably less momentum heading into the series, with the Blue Jays having just beat the San Francisco Giants (and almost throwing a no-hitter against them on Wednesday night). Hopefully, San Diego will be able to regain some offensive momentum against Toronto tonight.
Taking the mound
Shane Bieber (TOR) v. JP Sears (SD)
Bieber hasn’t looked great since returning from injury. After surprising many by re-signing with Toronto, Bieber hasn’t helped his free agency case this season. In his first three starts back, the righty’s posted a 9.00 ERA across 13 innings pitched. He’s also posted a ridiculous 2.08 WHIP.
His most recent start against the Seattle Mariners was, by far, his worst. Bieber surrendered seven runs to the Mariners across just four innings pitched. The Padres will look to tag him for that many in the hopes of a series opening win.
Similar to Bieber, Sears has made just three starts this season for San Diego. He’s pitched infinitely better than Bieber, but has still struggled. His high 4.70 ERA is only due to his start against the Chicago Cubs last week. Sears surrendered six runs to the Cubs across just 4 2/3 innings.
Sears rebounded immediately against the Los Angeles Dodgers with five scoreless innings against the rivals. He hasn’t faced Toronto’s lineup very much in the past, which should give him a slight edge over the Jays.
Batter up!
San Diego’s lineup has been resurgent but spotty lately. They’ve scored 29 runs in their last eight games for an average of 3.63 runs per game. Excluding the two games they were shut out, the average bumps up to a much more respectable 4.83 runs per game. The lineup will need to show up against Bieber tonight in order to win the series opener.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Of the Friars, Bogaerts has had the most career success against Bieber. The short owns a .364 batting average and 1.144 OPS against the righty in 11 at-bats. If he can replicate that tonight, it would be a fantastic turnaround to the struggles that Bogaerts has been recently mired in.
Relief corps
After a few tiring weeks, the bullpen has been spared from overuse as of late. That was mostly true last night, with Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Wandy Peralta and Adrian Morejon covering the final 4 1/3 innings. Each pitched a full frame, with Rodriguez covering 1 1/3 innings for San Diego.
That leaves Jhony Brito, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio and Mason Miller as options for tonight. Brito looked solid in his 2026 debut on Tuesday night but hasn’t been used since. Hart and Marinaccio have been rough lately and will look to turn things around facing the Jays.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 17: Pitcher Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates fields the ball and throws to first base to get the out of Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics in the bottom of the third inning at Sutter Health Park on June 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are still at PNC Park for a weekend series as they host the NL Central leader Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game set.
The Pirates hope to start the series off strong with a win by handing the ball to Braxton Ashcraft, who is arguably Pittsburgh’s best starter this season. Ashcraft has won his last four starts and is coming off a win against the Washington Nationals on July 4. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run, and earned a 7-1 victory on Independence Day.
The Brewers will counter with right-hander Brandon Sproat, who is making his 16th start of the year. Sprote is coming off a short start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 5, where he pitched four innings and gave up five hits and one earned run. He was not part of the decision because he did not pitch long enough, but the Brewers picked up a 3-2 win. Milwaukee has won each of Sprote’s last four starts, so they hope to continue their hot streak with him on the mound.
It’s the final series before the All-Star break, and with the Pirates sitting at .500, this weekend is critical for Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes.
India opener Smriti Mandhana fell agonisingly short of becoming the first woman to score a Test century at Lord’s as the celebrated ground staged its inaugural women’s Test on Friday.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Mohamed Diawara #51 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 15, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Skip the Cirque du Soleil, go past the roulette table, and head straight to the basketball court, because Summer scrimmages are back in Vegas, baby! Will the games be pretty? Unlikely. But they will give you an early look at the Knicks’ young talent (e.g., Jack Kayil, Tyler Nickel) and give rostered players (e.g., Mohamed Diawara, Pacome Dadiet) a chance to prove they deserve more attention heading into training camp. Expect Diawara and Dadiet to carry much of the offensive and defensive workload. Across the floor, the Summer League Nets will field a promising young roster led by Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. Expect them to give T.J. Saint’s squad a run for their money!
Tip-off is 6 pm EST on Amazon Prime / Gotham. This is your game thread. This is Nets Daily. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be good humans. And go Knicks!
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 6: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on July 6, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The California Classic was plenty of fun for Nets fans. Egor Dëmin absolutely showed out, and Mikel Brown Jr. showed up just in time to make a serious first impression. Now, they’ll take their talents along with the rest of the summer squad and head over to Las Vegas to play the Knicks. Their summer hype is a well-earned celebration tour. Brooklyn’s summer holds a lot of weight as they assess their rotation entering the 2026-27 season.
Four games… then 3+ months until the next game. Enjoy them!
🏀 Key Info
Who: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
Tip-off Time: 6:00 PM ET
Broadcast: YES Network, Gotham Sports App, Prime Video, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, ESPN+
Location: Las Vegas, NV (Thomas & Mack Center/Pavilion)
✍️ Game Preview
The Nets’ other two-way player, and second-round rookie Tyler Bilodeau, was electric beyond the arc. His 3-point shooting has always been his calling card, nailing 46.4% of his 3-point attempts at UCLA last season. He quickly flashed that ability in two Summer League games, averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 26 minutes per game while converting 58.3% of his 3-point attempts. He even drilled four triples in just the first half of the Nets’ final game at the California Classic.
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
In the meantime, check out The Brooklyn with Pooch & Collin as they talk about the California Classic, offseason, and what to look for in Las Vegas.
With no clear-cut top pick, the pressure is on for White Sox brass to make the right call at noon Saturday. | (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Chicago’s future will be decided this weekend in a conference room in Philadelphia, at approximately 12 p.m. CT. Although I only partially mean it facetiously, that’s how the front office has seen the first pick of the 2026 MLB draft since the Winter Meetings that revealed its lottery win.
For the last seven months, Chicago’s baseball operations, scouting, player development and coaches have debated who should be the face of the franchise by 2030: Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson or Vahn Lackey. National and local scouting reports, podcasts, and analysts have done their fair share of speculation, but let’s shift the conversation and read between the lines and assess what these picks say about the organization’s belief in itself.
Scouting department reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Seeing would be believing that Cholowsky’s last three college years were the real deal. The 21 year-old slugger peaked last year with a .353/.480/.710 and 23 HRs and 74 RBIs, regressing only slightly in his 2026 campaign. Picking the UCLA Bruin signals that the scouting department believes these numbers aren’t flukes, and that GM Chris Getz has full trust in the scouts’ eyes.
Emerson: If Getz’s confidence is a 10 out of 10 for Cholowsky, it would be a 12/10 for Emerson in the scouting department. Taking a high-schooler is always riskier than a college player, but banking on a player who slashed .398/.515/.648, had 13 home runs and a 19.7% walk rate in 223 games in the Perfect Game Tournament, one of the most elite travel ball programs in the country, would indicate that the scouts believe Emerson isn’t even close to his ceiling, and that Getz believes so, too.
Lackey: A catcher hasn’t been taken with the first pick of the MLB draft since Adley Rutschman in 2019. For Lackey to be in the discussion means the scouts see something truly special in him, and so does Getz. His rapid acceleration from slashing .214/.330/.381 in his freshman year at Georgia Tech to .397/.519/.772 two years later is forgivable because his glove and arm steal scouts’ eyes. This is a bold pick, but the upside and trust are there.
Development department reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Chicago is relying on Cholowsky to come in mostly-baked, because they’re more confident in their talent development in fine-tuning a prospect than early pipeline stages. Only two of the Sox’s last 11 first-round picks (since 2016) came from high school. Chicago is relying on Cholowsky’s college maturation, noted by a 2.5% strikeout rate drop and 2% walk rate increase from freshman to junior year, to compensate for its hit-or-miss development skills, primarily with position players.
Emerson: Confidence is sky-high with player development. Paul Janish is the new sheriff in town, and he’s ready to turn the tables on the Sox’s poor PD track record. This doesn’t mean that Emerson doesn’t lay plenty of groundwork. His natural, powerful swing, plus arm and decent speed make him a dream pick in many eyes. But he’s only 18 years old, even if he’s more developed than many college players.
Lackey: Like Cholowsky, Lackey is close to a finished product. Having Walker McKinven, former Brewers catching and strategy and run prevention coach, as the bench coach instills a lot of confidence in the Sox’s ability to translate Lackey’s 55-grade fielding and 50-grade arm into a reliable, daily catcher. Going with a guy whose profile isn’t far off from Cholowsky’s alludes to a high degree of confidence in the coaching staff’s ability to raise Lackey’s ceiling and floor.
Baseball operations reflection If the pick is Cholowsky: Although a crowded infield seems like a problem, the Sox embrace it because they know Will Venable can put together a decent lineup. Getz’s trust and confidence in Venable has grown exponentially this year, even if the dramatic home and road splits call his management into question. If Venable is finding a way to win without the first overall draft pick in his arsenal, let’s see what he does when he has the most highly-anticipated shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Emerson: Adding Montgomery as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 draft was the tip of the high school prospect iceberg. Seeing Montgomery’s transformation from a struggling Triple-A hitter riddled with injuries to a cumulative 5.3 WAR player in essentially a year’s worth of games was a sign that the research, player development and scouting departments figured out the right recipe for above-average talent at a cost-effective price. Now, it’s time to rinse and repeat the formula. It’s time to go back to drafting players with 50-grade fielding and speed and smooth lefty swings.
Lackey: The Sox aren’t happy with their backstops of today or tomorrow, and Lackey could earn the starting job quickly. There’s little faith that Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero, or anyone else in the minors, can be every pitcher’s favorite catcher and provide elite defense. Making the unorthodox choice to snag a catcher with the top pick in the draft also hints at the front office’s preference for a slow-burn player who can provide more defensive value in the long run at a lower price point than a flashy, versatile shortstop.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s a lot of noise — some informed, some not — that LeBron James is signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency. However, nothing is set in stone or guaranteed until James or his team announces where he plans on playing next season. And rumors are flying in every direction.
To prove that point, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on a recent radio interview that a “good source” told him that James signing in another city was a “done deal.” He didn’t say that it was a done deal or that he was reporting it. The point here was to say that there are rumors in other cities as well.
"I'm hearing stuff in other cities too. I'm not gonna say who but I had somebody on the phone with me today that I consider a good source who was swearing it's a done deal in another city," – @WindhorstESPN on the latest LeBron rumors 😯😯😯 pic.twitter.com/4uHgOsAC86
Figuring out which other team Windhorst could be referring to is anyone’s guess. The Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Golden State Warriors all make compelling cases to varying degrees.
At this point, we still don’t know anything for certain. While it seems the Cavs are the ones expected to land James, other teams make compelling cases as well. And those other teams still feel like they are in the race for LeBron.
We’ll figure out how this ends in due time. All we can say right now is that it doesn’t seem like LeBron is in any type of rush to make a decision. The endless speculation and rumors could drag on for anywhere from several more hours to several more weeks.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 9: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning at Globe Life Field on July 9, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for July 10, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Hunter Brown for the Astros.
It is the final series prior to the All Star Break. Texas has three at home against Houston. Silver Boot excitement!
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — LF
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Carter — CF
Lopez — 2B
Higashioka — C
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +117 underdogs.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 3: Gheorghe Muresan #77 of the Washington Bullets stands during a game played on March 3, 1996 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There are three kinds of NBA jerseys you see at Las Vegas Summer League. There’s affectionate, ironic, and regrettable. The first category is simple: Steph Curry No. 30, Kobe Bryant No. 8, Kobe Bryant No. 24, Kobe Bryant Lower Merien High No. 33. There’s a lot of Lakers fans at Summer League.
Ironic is the kind of jersey you see on a hipster at Coachella or that I was wearing Thursday: A No. 34 Mike Dunleavy, Junior in Thunder-the-Mascot-Era lettering. The guy sitting in front of me was rocking a No. 77 Gheorghe Muresan Washington Wizards jersey, honoring My Giant himself. It shows you are a Ball Knower, more than simply a Ball Fan.
The regrettable is when you’ve spent big on a jersey and made a huge mistake. Like when my father bought me a Michael Crabtree jersey for my birthday, but Crabtree held out from the San Francisco 49ers for months, so Dad simply pretended he forgot to get me anything until four months later, when Crabtree finally signed, thanks to the intervention of MC Hammer.
That applied to the young Utah Jazz fan sitting in our row wearing a Walter Clayton, Jr. jersey. Clayton was the hero of March Madness in 2025, winning a title with the Dubs’ own Will Richard. The Jazz traded up to get him in the first round and this Jazz enthusiast bought in early. Then, Keyonte George solidified himself as Utah’s point guard of the future, and Clayton was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Jaren Jackson, Jr. trade.
Lucky for him, the “ironic jersey is really just a regrettable jersey + time. That WCJ jersey is going to be incredible when President Barron Trump holds White House Lawn Coachella in 2047.
There were quite a few Darryn Peterson Jazz jerseys in the arena, as he was making his summer debut against No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa after the Warriors beat the Mavericks. Fewer Dybantsas, perhaps because Salt Lake City is simply closer to Vegas than Washington D.C. is. Plenty of Kobes, Plenty of Stephs, but fewer LeBron jerseys than usual, perhaps because he’s not on a team yet — Lakers fans got spurned, Cavs fans don’t want to jinx it, Heat fans are wearing Lionel Messi jerseys.
Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of New York Knicks jerseys this year after they won the title, though the variety of merchandise is a wider range. I saw a Patrick Ewing jersey, an OG Anunoby shirsey, multiple NBA Champions t-shirts, two Jalen Brunsons, and one Karl-Anthony Towns. It might be that Knicks merchandise was selling out even overseas, so people had to take what was available. That is not meant to disparage Anunoby, Anne Hathaway’s favorite basketball player, one bit.
For the trip, I’m torn. I always wear an MDJ as a tribute, but I also packed a Jazz Jeff Hornacek jersey I bought for a video making fun of how he rubbed his face during free throws, well after he retired, clearly a banger. But am I too old for ironic jerseys?
No. Because if I don’t wear the Brooklyn Nets Jersey of Kris Humphries, the love of Kim Kardashian’s life, every year at Summer League, that means I wasted the $5 I paid for it at their online store, which was still inexplicably stocking it in 2015, two years after he left the team. Kim K. did him wrong!
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
Victor Wembanyama might be willing to leave money on the table to help the Spurs build around him.
The San Antonio superstar is considering signing a rookie-scale extension below the maximum value available to him, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, a move that would preserve more financial flexibility for the franchise.
The report came after Wembanyama, 22, posted a cryptic message that seemingly addressed the extension talks.
“Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes,” Wembanyama wrote on X with a black heart emoji.
The French sensation didn’t explicitly reference his contract situation, but Fischer’s subsequent report raised the possibility that “whatever it takes” could include accepting less than the full amount available to him.
Wembanyama is eligible to sign a five-year, $251 million maximum rookie-scale extension this summer.
The deal could grow to roughly $301 million if he qualifies for a higher maximum salary through certain league honors.
Anything less than that number would go a long way toward helping the Spurs keep their young core together.
Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who were selected near the top of the draft in consecutive years, could command massive rookie extensions of their own if they continue developing alongside Wembanyama.
San Antonio has already made a major financial commitment to De’Aaron Fox, whose four-year, approximately $229 million extension begins with the 2026-27 season and runs through 2029-30.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 13, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.
Fox is set to make approximately $55 million during the 2027-28 season, when Wembanyama’s next contract would begin.
The Spurs also have five other players, including Devin Vassell at around $27 million, set to make $10 million or more next season.
Wembanyama accepting a less-than-max deal would provide breathing room under the NBA’s increasingly restrictive luxury-tax aprons that have been a massive strain on team-building in recent years.
Earlier this offseason, the Knicks let Mitchell Robinson walk for Boston in part due to second-apron restrictions that Wembanyama could help the Spurs avoid.
SPLITTING ‘EM UP: By winning two of three at Baltimore, the Cubs evened their record in series for the season: 14 won, 14 lost and two split. They are 6-1-1 in their last eight. Last year, through 30 series, they were 18-9-3. They finished 31-19-3. They were 55-38 through 93 games a year ago. Today, they are 52-41. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
ONE-RUN GAMES: Yesterday’s loss was the Cubs’ first by one run in 27 games, since a 2-1 loss at home against the Giants on June 7. Between the losses, the Cubs had gone 18-8, including four wins by one run. For the season, they are 15-10 in one-run games. They finished at 25-19 last season, their first with a winning record since they were 26-25 in 2018. From 2019-24, they were a combined 123-142. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
OUTHITTING THE OPPONENT: The Cubs lost yesterday despite outhitting the Orioles, 9-3. They had won all 14 previous games in which they had made at least six more hits than they gave up. They are 39-5 when they outhit opponents, 4-2 when they have the same number of hits and 9-34 when they have been outhit, including their 9-7 win on Wednesday, in which they made eight hits and gave up 14. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs end a five-game losing streak and a 20-game stretch in which they went 5-15 by defeating the Pirates 6-5 at PNC Park. Anthony Rizzo went 4-for-5 and Albert Almora Jr. homered in the victory. It happened 10 years ago today, Sunday, July 10, 2016.
Shōta Imanaga, last five starts: 3.00 ERA, 1.148 WHIP, 26 strikeouts in 27 innings, four home runs allowed.
That’s… pretty good!
On May 7 at Wrigley Field, Imanaga held the Reds to one run in six innings and struck out 10. That’d play tonight. The last time he pitched in Cincinnati was Sept. 19, 2025 and he allowed three home runs in five innings. But, that was during a second half in which Imanaga was likely not fully recovered from his hamstring injury. The previous year, June 9, 2024, Imanaga threw 6.2 innings and allowed two runs and only one home run.
Hopefully we get the 2024 version tonight.
Hunter Greene just returned from an injury that kept him out most of this year. He had bone chips removed from his right elbow. That’s never good for a pitcher.
His only start since returning was July 4 at GABP against the Orioles, and they lit him up for seven hits, four walks and eight runs in 3.2 innings. He threw 89 pitches and did top out at 99 miles per hour, but… maybe he isn’t quite ready yet?
Last year, Sept. 18, 2025, Greene threw a one-hit complete game shutout against the Cubs. Somehow I’m thinking he’s not quite that guy again… yet.
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 15: Nick Krall, General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds, speaks to the media during the Spring Training Cactus League Media Day at Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft begins in earnest tomorrow, July 11th, at 1:00 PM ET. And because everything must be a spectacle under commissioner Rob Manfred, it’s going to be a televised extravaganza across two days.
Rounds 1-4 will be broadcast live on NBC (and streamed on Peacock) on Saturday from 1:00 PM ET through 2:30 PM ET, which means you’ll be able to watch the Cincinnati Reds make picks at #18 in Round 1, #58 in Round 2, #70 in Competitive Balance Round B (which follows Round 2), pick #94 in Round 3, and pick #122 in Round 4 all on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday will see coverage resumed by MLB.com, MLB.tv, and MLB+ beginning at 11:30 PM ET. Rounds 5-20 will all take place on Sunday afternoon and evening, at which case the talking heads can begin to yap about which teams had the best overall draft even though every single player selected will still be a year (or, in most every case, years) away from actually having a shot to contribute at the big league level.
Because the Reds unexpectedly made a playoff appearance last year, albeit briefly, they don’t pick until 18th overall this year. Between that, having zero Compensation Picks from losing a free agent to a big enough contract elsewhere, and landing a Competitive Balance Round B pick (instead of Competitive Balance Round A after Round 1), their overall draft bonus pool of $10,758,500 ranks as just the 17th highest in the league this year. How that impacts their strategy of drafting high school talent vs. college talent remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they swing big with their first selection and then backfill in rounds 7-10 by drafting college seniors who’ll only command minimum bonuses to sign.
Ohio State's Bruce Thornton (2) dapps up the rest of his teammates after they gain the foul on January 30, 2025 | Taj Falconer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Rockets VSL vs Nuggets VSL
Time: 7:30 PM CST
Watch: ESPN2
Where: Pavillion, Las Vegas, NV
Tonight the Houston Rockets begin their 2026 Las Vegas Summer League experience. Unlike last year, there is a draft pick playing, the somewhat controversial Bruce Thornton. Thornton was taken with the first pick in the second round. A trade with the New York Knicks made this possible, but don’t expect the Rockets to make a lot more 2nd round picks soon, as they currently don’t have any in upcoming seasons. On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets have 20 of the things, and they’re basically the fungible currency of trades in the NBA these days.
Thorton was drafted as a 22 year old senior out of Ohio State, though he had offers to play at other major programs, like Jabari Smith’s Auburn. He’s meant to be a polished three level scorer, and his physique, power and height are reminiscent of Jalen Brunson and Kyle Lowry. If anything like that outcome happens for Thornton, it’s a spectacular pick. Even if he’s simply a useful bench guard in heavy rotation, it’s a very good pick. If he sticks around on the bench, and stays in the NBA, it’s a good second round pick. If none of that happens, it’s a typical second round pick, just to set the bar for what to expect here.
The Rockets described Thornton as an analytics darling, and he should be ready to go in VSL, as a four year college player. As a scoring point guard, the sort of player that typically looks best in Summer League’s chaotic and unstructured action. Since the Rockets offense can also be described as chaotic and unstructured (when it’s not being predictable and easily defended) this is a good test.
The Rockets have another player or two that might make the roster on the squad for summer league. College senior Qudir Copeland signed with the Rockets as an undrafted free agent. He was expected to either be a late second round pick, or go undrafted. He might be a good pickup, as he has good size for a guard. He’s described as a good rebounder, he defend decently, has a decent handle, and is a high effort player. Copeland’s shooting is a real concern, in that he doesn’t shoot all that well, or that often. Sound like a perfect Rocket.
Anyhow, we’ll get to see a couple of new Rockets, or at least potential Rockets. Along with an old friend of TDS: Daishen Nix. He’s back. Again. Commence to rejoicing, Nix fans!
The Rockets VSL team will be coached by Will Huntings non mathematical genius (probably) cousin, Will Dunn.
